The Hot List 2009

Hotel Montefiore

The 12-room Hotel Montefiore is Tel Aviv's first boutique hotel.
Smack in the middle of the historic White City, it is a fine
example of the Levant's eclectic style of architecture. Capped by a
dome, accented by Juliet balconies and tiny Moorish arches, the
1922 mansion at once evokes Europe and the Near East. The compact
bedrooms are of a fairly standard size and shape, but each is
decorated with original and custom-made furniture evoking the
Bauhaus period, piles of glossy travel and art books, and lots of
art on the walls. Bath products are by Olia, a local haute
olive-oil brand; minibars are stocked with Israeli wines and
European chocolates. The halls and lobby are hung with paintings by
up-and-coming Tel Aviv artists and the city's media and art elite
dine in the restaurant, which features pan-Asian dishes such as
crispy Peking duck and foie-gras-filled ravioli consommé. The
Montefiore's elegant style and attentive service have quickly made
it Tel Aviv's smartest home-from-home, one of the most truly
cosmopolitan social spots in the city.

ROOM TO BOOK Room 22 enjoys eyecatching city views
away from the noise of Montefiore Street.

WHEN TO GO In May, for great weather (it's still
not too hot) and the Houses From Within festival, when
well-preserved Bauhaus-period homes are open to the public.